Hydrogen generator and method of operating the same

Abstract

A hydrogen generator and a method of operating the hydrogen generator. The hydrogen generator includes: a cylindrical reformer catalyst; and a cylindrical shift catalyst disposed inside of the reformer catalyst; a separation wall provided between the reformer catalyst and the shift catalyst; a cylinder that is disposed inside of the reformer catalyst, and comprises, on an outer surface thereof, a plurality of first nozzles to direct a plurality of flames to the reformer catalyst and a plurality of second nozzles to direct a plurality of flames to the shift catalyst; and a combustion fuel supply valve that selectively guides a combustion fuel to the first nozzles and or the second nozzles. The method includes heating the shift catalyst by supplying a combustion fuel to the second nozzles, making flames by igniting the combustion fuel that passes through the second nozzles, and directing the flames towards the shift catalyst, and stopping the heating of the shift catalyst by blocking the supply of the combustion fuel to the second nozzles when the temperature of the shift catalyst reaches the shift reaction temperature.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A hydrogen generator, comprising:
 a reformer catalyst; 
 a shift catalyst disposed around the reformer catalyst; 
 a cylinder disposed inside of the reformer catalyst, the cylinder comprising,
 a plurality of first nozzles to direct a combustion fuel towards the reformer catalyst, and 
 a plurality of second nozzles to direct a combustion fuel towards the shift catalyst; 
 
 a separation wall disposed between the reformer catalyst and the shift catalyst such that the combustion fuel directed by the first nozzles is not directed to the shift catalyst and the combustion fuel directed by the second nozzles is not directed to the reformer catalyst, and 
 a combustion fuel supply valve to selectively guide the combustion fuel to only the first nozzles and not to the second nozzles, to only the second nozzles and not to the first nozzles, or to both the first and second nozzles. 
 
     
     
       2. The hydrogen generator of  claim 1 , wherein the separation wall is formed of an insulating material. 
     
     
       3. The hydrogen generator of  claim 1 , wherein the cylinder has a combustion fuel supply hole defined therein, to direct the combustion fuel into the cylinder,
 wherein the combustion fuel supply hole is located closer to the second nozzles than the first nozzles, and 
 wherein the combustion fuel supply valve is disposed between the first nozzles and the second nozzles within the cylinder. 
 
     
     
       4. The hydrogen generator of  claim 3 , wherein the combustion fuel supply valve comprises:
 a first block to block the combustion fuel from being supplied to the first nozzles; 
 a second block to block the combustion fuel from being supplied to the second nozzles; and 
 a shaft connecting the first block and the second block, 
 wherein the combustion fuel supply valve is configured to move to a first position in which the supply of the combustion fuel to the first nozzles is blocked by the first block but the supply of the combustion fuel to the second nozzles is allowed, a second position in which the supply of the combustion fuel to the second nozzles is blocked by the second block but the supply of the combustion fuel to the first nozzles is allowed, and a third position in which the supply of the combustion fuel to both the first nozzles and the second nozzles is allowed. 
 
     
     
       5. The hydrogen generator of  claim 1 , further comprising an inner heat exchanger disposed in the cylinder, to vaporize water added to a power generation fuel. 
     
     
       6. The hydrogen generator of  claim 1 , wherein the reformer catalyst directly opposes the first nozzles. 
     
     
       7. The hydrogen generator of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the second nozzles are disposed on a second portion of the outer perimeter of the cylinder, adjacent to the combustion fuel supply valve; and 
 the first nozzles are disposed on a first portion of the outer perimeter of the cylinder, adjacent to the reformer catalyst. 
 
     
     
       8. The hydrogen generator of  claim 5 , wherein the heat exchanger comprises:
 a fuel guiding tube to guide a power generating fuel to the cylinder; and 
 a heat absorption cylinder to vaporize the water. 
 
     
     
       9. The hydrogen generator of  claim 1 , wherein the combustion fuel supply valve comprises:
 a first block to block the combustion fuel from being supplied to the first nozzles; 
 a second block to block the combustion fuel from being supplied to the second nozzles; and 
 a shaft connecting the first block and the second block, 
 wherein the second block comprises a first surface, a second surface, and plurality of through holes to connect the first surface and the second surface. 
 
     
     
       10. The hydrogen generator of  claim 1 , wherein the combustion fuel supply valve comprises:
 a first block to block the combustion fuel from being supplied to the first nozzles; 
 a second block to block the combustion fuel from being supplied to the second nozzles; and 
 a shaft connecting the first block and the second block, 
 wherein the combustion fuel supply valve is configured to move along an axis running though the shaft. 
 
     
     
       11. The hydrogen generator of  claim 1 , further comprising a first hydrogen guide to direct the flow of hydrogen from the reformer catalyst to the shift catalyst. 
     
     
       12. The hydrogen generator of  claim 1 , further comprising a second hydrogen guide to direct the flow of hydrogen from the shift catalyst out of the hydrogen generator. 
     
     
       13. The hydrogen generator of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first exhaust gas discharge path; and 
 a second exhaust gas discharge path, 
 wherein the first exhaust gas discharge path and second exhaust gas discharge path are configured to channel exhaust gas from the first nozzles and the second nozzles, respectively, out of the hydrogen generator. 
 
     
     
       14. A hydrogen generator, comprising:
 a reformer catalyst; 
 a shift catalyst disposed around the reformer catalyst; 
 a burner disposed inside of the reformer catalyst, the burner comprising,
 a plurality of first nozzles that direct flames toward the reformer catalyst, and 
 a plurality of second nozzles that direct flames toward the shift catalyst; 
 
 a separation wall disposed between the reformer catalyst and the shift catalyst such that the flames directed by the first nozzles are not directed to the shift catalyst and the flames directed by the second nozzles are not directed to the reformer catalyst; and 
 a combustion fuel supply valve to selectively guide a combustion fuel to only the first nozzles and not to the second nozzles, to only the second nozzles and not to the first nozzles, or to both the first and second nozzles. 
 
     
     
       15. A hydrogen generator comprising:
 a reformer catalyst; 
 a shift catalyst disposed around the reformer catalyst; 
 a separation wall disposed between the reformer catalyst and the shift catalyst; 
 a cylinder disposed inside of the reformer catalyst, comprising,
 a plurality of first nozzles to direct a combustion fuel towards the reformer catalyst, and 
 a plurality of second nozzles to direct a combustion fuel towards the shift catalyst; and 
 
 a combustion fuel supply valve to selectively guide a combustion fuel to the first nozzles, the second nozzles, or both the first and second nozzles, 
 wherein the combustion fuel supply valve comprises: 
 a first block to block the combustion fuel from being supplied to the first nozzles; 
 a second block to block the combustion fuel from being supplied to the second nozzles; and 
 a shaft connecting the first block and the second block, 
 wherein the second block comprises a first surface, a second surface, and plurality of through holes to connect the first surface and the second surface.